Dood van Absalom 1570 - 1629

Antonio Maria Viani captured the death of Absalom in this evocative drawing. Absalom, caught in the act of rebellion against his father King David, finds himself ensnared by his own hubris. Look at the way Viani captures Absalom suspended between heaven and earth: his flowing hair, once a symbol of pride and virility, now becomes his undoing as it gets entangled in the tree branches. This recalls the ancient motif of the “hanged man,” a figure of sacrifice and transition found in various cultures, from the Norse god Odin hanging on the world tree to the Tarot card representing suspension and surrender. Note the soldiers closing in. The act of the hunt, the pursuit, is a recurring theme that echoes through time, reminding us that power and betrayal are cyclical. As you gaze at this drawing, consider the enduring power of these symbols. They resurface and evolve, carrying with them layers of cultural and emotional resonance that speak to our collective memory.